VP Ansari arrives in Lagos after Abuja visit

India's Vice President Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari listens as he meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping (not in picture) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing June 30, 2014. REUTERS/Wang Zhao/Pool (CHINA - Tags: POLITICS)

Lagos [Nigeria]: India’s Vice President Mohammed Hamid Ansari on Wednesday arrived in Lagos from capital city Abuja on the second leg of his four-day official visit to Nigeria.

During his stay in Abuja, Vice President Ansari called on the President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, at the State House.

He also met his Nigerian counterpart, Yemi Osinbajo at the State House.

Vice President Ansari inaugurated the High Commission of India Chancery complex in Abuja and interacted with the members of the Indian community.

Earlier in the day, the Vice President inspected the guard of honour at the National Defence College in Abuja, Nigeria.

Commandant of the National Defence Academy, Nigeria, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade was also seen at the event.

Asserting that the biggest threat to international peace and to the sovereignty of states today is terrorism, Vice President Ansari said that terrorism can only be defeated by organized international action, adding we need to restructure the international legal framework such as by adopting a Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

He also addressed the India – Nigeria Business Forum in Abuja, where he said that, “It is a matter of satisfaction that for the last few years, India has been the largest trading partner of Nigeria, and Nigeria is the largest trading partner of India in Africa.”

“Considering the diverse security challenges of our times, stronger India-Nigeria relations would not only be mutually beneficial, but would also add to the regional and global security,” he added.

Vice President Ansari on Monday left on a five-day official visit to Nigeria and Mali as part of efforts to bolster New Delhi’s ties with both West African nations.

The historic State visit to Nigeria by then prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh in October 2007 after a gap of over forty five years elevated the strategic partnership.

Nigeria is India’s largest trading partner in Africa with the bilateral trade amounting to USD 12.6 billion in 2015-16.

India is also the largest buyer of crude oil from Nigeria, and more than 100 Indian companies have a large presence there as well as both the countries have strong defence cooperation.

On the second leg of his trip, the Vice President will reach Mali on September 29 for the first ever high-level visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Modibo Keita. (ANI)